Automatic pin creation using password

ABSTRACT

A PIN is automatically generated based on at least one rule when the user enters a password through a user device. In one example, the PIN is a truncated version of the password where each character in the truncated version is mapped onto a number. The mapping can be a truncation at the beginning or end of the password, or the mapping can be with any pattern or sequence of characters in the password. This PIN generation may be transparent to the user, such that the user may not even know the PIN was generated when the password was entered. When the user attempts to access restricted content, the user may enter the PIN instead of the password, where the user may be notified of the rule used to generate the PIN so that the user will know the PIN by knowing the password.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/281,273, filed Oct. 25, 2011, which is relatedto and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. Ser. No.61/409,869, filed Nov. 3, 2010, which is incorporated by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to Personal IdentificationNumber (PIN) creation and more particularly to automatic creation ofPINs.

2. Related Art

PINs or Personal Identification Numbers are used to identify orauthenticate a user, such as at an ATM machine, to access accountinformation, such as through a smart phone, a computer or PC, or througha telephone. PINs are typically preferred by the user for use on phonesor other devices having numerical keypads. One reason is that PINs areshorter, and therefore faster to enter. Another is that PINs typicallyhave fewer characters (i.e., only 0-9), which means that these keys canbe made larger, and therefore easier for the user to enter on a device.Further yet, PINs, which do not require a full QWERTY keyboard, aresuitable for smaller numeric keypads.

However, PINs are typically less secure than passwords because eachdigit of a PIN only has 10 possibilities (0-9), while each digit of apassword can have 52 possibilities (letters A-Z, both upper and lowercase) or more if other characters such as numbers and symbols are alsoavailable. Furthermore, PINs are less secure because they typicallyexhibit stronger patterns for ease of memory by the user, e.g., it hasbeen reported that one in five users choose their PIN as a date. Sincethere are only 365 days in a year, this clearly does not take advantageof the full potential of all the 10000 combinations afforded by havingfour digit PINs.

There are many other reasons why PINs have slight drawbacks, such asbeing harder to remember (unless the user chooses an easily rememberedpattern, such as a date).

A further disadvantage of PINs is that users may be required to createor generate a new PIN for access through a mobile device or device witha numerical keypad, even though the user already has a password foraccess through the user's PC, laptop, or home/work computer. Thisresults in a more difficult on-boarding process for the user, which maylead to the user reducing or even eliminating use on affected mobileapplications. Even if a user decides to create a PIN, the user may needto first enter a password through the mobile device, thereby exposingthe password to possible fraudsters. This can be problematic, as mobileenvironments tend to be less secure than non-mobile environments.

Therefore, there is a need for a PIN generation that overcomes thedisadvantages of conventional methods discussed above.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present invention, a PIN is generatedautomatically when the user enters a password through a user device,such as a PC or laptop. The PIN is a truncated version of the passwordwhere each letter or character is mapped onto a number, and where, as aresult, the PIN digits correspond to the characters of the password. Thetruncation can be from the beginning or the end of the password, or anyother well-defined portion, such as from the third character of thepassword. It can also be a specific sequence, e.g., the first, third,fourth and sixth character of the password. Also, the length of the PINmay vary, depending on system requirements and other factors. In oneembodiment, the truncation is the first four characters of the password.For example, if the password is “BeEF7gulP”, the automatically generatedPIN is “2333”, which corresponds to the first four characters of thepassword mapped onto digits. The remaining characters (7gulP) are notused. This PIN generation may be transparent to the user. In otherwords, the user may not even know the PIN was generated when thepassword was entered.

When the user attempts to log in or obtain access through a mobiledevice or other device utilizing a numerical keypad (which may alsocontain characters), the user may be notified that the PIN to enter isthe first four characters of the user's password, but mapped to numberson the keypad. Thus, the user enters “2333” to log in the siteassociated with the password “BeEF7gulP”.

As a result, the user has a PIN that is easily remembered, withouthaving to create a PIN separately. This provides the user with a morefriction-less experience. In addition, the PIN entered into the devicewill be difficult for a fraudster to determine the associated passwordsince the PIN is shorter and not a complete representation of thepassword. Furthermore, since each number of the PIN can map to sevendifferent possibilities (the digit itself, three upper case letters, andthree lower case letters), and in the case of the number 9, ninepossibilities (the digit and four letters, upper and lower case).Foreign keyboards may have slightly different mappings due to differentalphabets, but the same principles apply.

These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure willbe more readily apparent from the detailed description of theembodiments set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of an automatic PINgeneration process by a site or service provide;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a process a site orservice provider performs when a user attempts a log in through themobile device or other suitable device;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a networked system that can be used in themethod of FIGS. 1 and/or 2 according to an embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a computer system suitable forimplementing the various devices described herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are bestunderstood by referring to the detailed description that follows. Itshould be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identifylike elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, whereinshowings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of thepresent disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A user may have many different accounts or sites that require a passwordfor entry or access. A user may have one password for all, a fewpasswords for all, or a different password for each account or site.Typically, if the user has numerous accounts, a few passwords are usedfor all the accounts, with some passwords used with multiple differentaccounts.

When the user accesses an account or site, such as through the user'sPC, smart phone, tablet, or laptop, the user enters the requestedpassword. If the site authenticates the password, and a PIN had not beenpreviously created, the site automatically creates a PIN, if applicable,with the password by converting characters (which may include letters,numbers, and symbols) to numbers and truncating if needed. This dependson the site requirements and other factors. For example, if the siterequires a six number PIN for mobile devices (or other devices), thenthe password is truncated to a six number PIN. If the user password onlyhas six characters, there is no truncation. Thus, the length of the PINand the amount of truncation may vary from site to site and frompassword to password. If the password is not long enough to create a PINof the desired format or length or contains characters that cannot bemapped (such as %$#), then there may be no mapping. Alternatively, ashorter temporary PIN may be created, or another selection can be usedin order to avoid the characters that cannot be mapped. Alternatively,the user may be instructed how to map these characters (e.g., anycharacter that is not found on the keypad is entered as the digit “0”),and the corresponding mapping done on the backend, as the PIN is firstderived from the password.

Where the truncation occurs may also vary. In different embodiments, theend of the password is truncated, the beginning is truncated, the endsare truncated, and/or the interior is truncated. Truncation may alsovary depending on the password. For example, if a default truncation isthe end (i.e., PIN mapping starts at the beginning of the password), butthe relevant portions of the password in the beginning cannot be mapped(e.g., contains symbols), a PIN may still be created using anotherportion of the password, such as the end of the password (in this case,the beginning of the password is truncated). It may be preferred tostart at the beginning of the password (end truncation) to make iteasier for the user to remember and enter the PIN.

There may be situations where a PIN cannot be created from the userpassword. For example, the password may contain less characters than therequired PIN, or the password may contain characters that cannot bemapped to numbers, such as symbols or punctuation marks. There may alsobe situations where a PIN should not be created from the user passworddue to policy or security reasons. For example, if the password containsnumbers that correspond to the PIN, the PIN may not be created becausesuch a PIN could be easily determined or obtained by fraudsters. Also,it is possible that a password is strong but results in a PIN that istraditionally seen as weak. For example, the password “0123joeCanFlyn0w”may be strong, but the derived PIN “0123” may be considered weak. Insuch cases, the derived PIN may be considered unsuitable and not stored,or a different policy used.

Table 1 below provides some examples of PIN generation for differentrules. It is possible for one financial organization to create multiplePINs from one user password, using potentially different rules for each.This way, there can be one PIN for ATMs, one for mobile applications,etc. This will not be a big burden for the user, who will determine howto map his/her password on an as-needed basis. It may improve thesecurity of the system, though, as it slightly compartmentalizes PINs.

TABLE 1 Password PIN Rule bird123 2473 First four characters WxpptPPRsT997787  First six characters Rd$$CarTNT No PIN generated First fourcharacters Rd$$CarTNT 7800 Last four characters and $ maps to 0Rd$$CarTNT 7868 Last four characters aB3Zr*L 2239 First four characters

If a successful PIN has been generated, the site stores the PIN andassociates the PIN with the user account. PINs can be stored in asecured format, such as what is done with passwords. This makes itharder for an attacker gaining access to an internal password or PINdatabase to extract the clear text passwords and PINs. If a PIN cannotor is not created, no PIN is stored, and the user will still have to login using a password through the mobile device (or create a PIN).

After PIN creation, the user access an mobile application (App) or sitethrough the mobile device, such as through a mobile web. Note that otherdevices may also be suitable here, such as Coinstar terminals, POSterminals, ATMs, and other devices having a numerical keypad on whichletters have been overlaid or included, such as a typical telephonekeypad. The user is asked to enter a PIN and informed of the rule formapping the password to the PIN. For example, the user may be notifiedto use the first X characters of the user's password, mapped to numberson the keypad. This notification may occur only on the first time theuser logs in with the PIN or at each log in session.

The user then enters the numbers, and the site attempts to authenticatethe PIN, which includes comparing the entered PIN with what was storedpreviously during PIN creation. If the PIN and user are authorized, thesite provides access to the user without the user having to enter apassword or create a PIN.

If the user changes the password at some time, the site may retain thepreviously created PIN, ask the user whether they wish to retain the PINor have the site generate a new PIN based on the new password, orautomatically generate a new password from the new PIN when the userfirst uses the new password through a user device, such as a PC orlaptop. Two possible PINs (the old one and the new one) can both betemporarily stored, and selected the first time the user inputs one ofthem. Then only the one entered by the user will be subsequentlyaccepted. This way, if a user has started to remember his/her PIN by thenumbers, as opposed to performing the mapping each time, then a passwordchange will not cause the PIN to change.

If a PIN has not been created for the user, the user may be asked toenter the password into the device for access. The user may then beasked to create a PIN through the device or a PIN is automaticallycreated as discussed above.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart 100 showing one embodiment of an automatic PINgeneration process by a site or service provider, such as PayPal, Inc.of San Jose, Calif. At step 102, the service provider receives log ininformation from a user through a user device. Note that serviceprovider, as used herein, refers to an online site or service providerthat needs a PIN to allow a user to access sensitive information on thesite or with the service provider. The user log in information may be anemail, a phone number, a user name, or other identifier that allows theservice provider to identify the user. The user may enter the log ininformation, such as through typing or voice, into the user device, suchas a smart phone, a PC, a tablet, or other computing and communicatingdevice by first accessing the service provider, such as through a mobileapp or a browser.

At step 104, the service provider receives a password from the user,again through the user device. Step 104 may be performed at the sametime as step 102. For example, the user may see a log in screen uponaccessing the service provider, where the log in screen requests theuser to enter the user identifier and the password into designatedfields or boxes. The password may be received from any user device.

Once received, the service provider determines, at step 106, whether thepassword is valid. This determination may include determining whetherthe received password matches the password associated with the useraccount maintained by the service provider. If not, the service providermay request the user to enter the password and/or user identifier again.If the service provider is unable to match the password with what isexpected after a specified number of attempts, the user will be deniedaccess and the process ends.

If the password is valid, the service provider determines, at step 108,whether a PIN creation rule can be applied. The service provider mayanalyze the received password and one or more acceptable rules todetermine if the rule can be used for the particular password. Forexample, using Table 1 above, if the rule for PIN creation is to use thefirst four characters, but the password received was “Rd$$CarTNT,” thenthe applicable rule cannot be applied because there is no mapping of the“s” symbol to a number. In this case, the process ends, and no automaticPIN creation is created. In another embodiment, the service provider mayattempt to apply a different rule to the password so that a PIN can begenerated. For example, there may be a rule that maps the “$” symbol toa number or a rule may be applied that utilizes the last four charactersof the password. In the latter case, a PIN can be generated as “7868”.

If a rule can be applied, as determined at step 108, the password isfirst truncated according to the rule at step 110. As discussed herein,the password can be truncated at the beginning, at the end, somewhere inthe interior, or following a particular sequence. After truncation, theremaining characters of the password are mapped to a number, at step112, again according to the rule. Letters may be mapped to correspondingnumbers on a standard number pad. Symbols and other non-letters may bemapped to specific numbers. For example, a rule may map the followingsymbols “! @ # $ % ̂ & * ( )” to “1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0”, respectively.This corresponds to the numbers associated with the particular symbol ona standard QWERTY keypad. Other mappings may also be possible fordifferent rules. The PIN is thus generated or created after step 112.

Once generated, the PIN is stored at step 114, such as within a databasemanaged by or accessible to the service provider. The PIN is associatedwith the user account and password. In one embodiment, prior to storage,the service provider may determine whether the generated PIN isacceptable, such as based on security reasons, as discussed above. Forexample, the generated PIN may be 1234, which may be unacceptable to theservice provider due to its ease of discovery by fraudsters. In thiscase, the PIN may not be stored, even though it was created. The usertherefore will still need to use the user's password or create a PIN aswith conventional methods.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 showing one embodiment of a process a site orservice provider performs when a user attempts a log in through themobile device or other suitable device, such as a PC or tablet. At step202, the service provider receives user information, such as a username, email address, phone number, etc. This information may be receivedfrom the user device and communicated electronically to a server managedor maintained by the service provider. Using the received information,the service provider accesses the account associated with the userinformation, such as by determining whether an account exists thatmatches the user information through a database search. If a validaccount is located, the service provider determines, at step 204,whether a PIN has been created for this account. For example, theaccount may have an associated password, but no corresponding PIN or PINcreated using the process described herein.

If no PIN was created using the process described herein, the user maybe asked to enter a password for the account in order to access theaccount, content, or site. The user may enter the password in a field onthe user device, such as by typing it into a keyboard/keypad. The usermay also enter the password by voice. Once entered, the usercommunicates the password, through the user device, to the serviceprovider, who then receives the password at step 206.

The service provider determines if the password is the correct oneassociated with the user account. If so, a PIN is created based on thepassword at step 208. PIN creation can be based on various rules asdiscussed herein and in FIG. 1, such as mapping the first fourcharacters of the password to numbers. If a valid PIN can be created,the PIN is stored at step 210, such that the user account is nowassociated with both a password and a PIN, even though the user did notactually create or pick the PIN. The service provider may create the PINwithout the user knowing or having to do anything, since the PINgeneration can be automatically created using system rules. Oncecreated, the user is provided access at step 212. Note that the user maybe provided access as soon as the user's password, received at step 206,has been verified by the service provider. Steps 208 and 210 for PINcreation and storage can be done during or after access is granted.

Returning back to step 204, if a PIN has been created for the user, suchas subsequent times the user attempts to access content from the serviceprovider after steps 208 and 210 have been performed, the user may benotified, at step 214, through the user device that the user can accessthe content or login using a PIN instead of the user's password. Thenotification may inform the user that a PIN has been created and isavailable for use in place of the password. The notification may be aone-time notification that occurs the first time a user attempts tologin after the PIN is created. In other embodiments, the notificationmay be continuous or provided at intervals, such as informing the userthat the user can login using the password or a PIN. The notificationmay be triggered any time the PIN changes, such as the user changing theuser's password, which may automatically create a new PIN based onrules. The notification may also include a rule or instructions to theuser for converting the user password to a PIN. This is needed,especially for the first time the user decides to login using the PINbecause the user will not know what the PIN is since the PIN was createdautomatically from the user password. For example, the user may beinformed that the PIN is the first four characters of the user'spassword mapped into corresponding numbers a PIN or keypad.

The user then enters the PIN, such as through a PIN or keypad from theuser's device. After entry, the PIN may be transmitted electronically tothe service provider, who then receives the PIN at step 216. Note thatin different embodiments, the user information and the PIN may bereceived through the same transmission. In this case, when the userattempts to access content from a service provider or site, the userenters in a user ID and the PIN at the same time. The service providermay then access the user's account to determine whether a PIN isassociated with the user's account and whether the PIN received from theuser is the correct one associated with the account.

Regardless of the sequence, when the PIN is received, the serviceprovider determines whether the PIN is valid at step 218. This can bedone by comparing the received PIN with the PIN stored with the serviceprovider and corresponding to the user account. If the PIN is valid, theuser is provided access at step 212.

However, if the PIN is not valid, which may be the result of the userentering a wrong PIN even though the user is the correct user associatedwith the account. This may happen if the user misunderstands the rulefor converting the password to the PIN or the user simply erroneouslyenters the PIN. The user may be given the option of reentering the PINor entering the password. If the latter, the user enters the password,such as through key entry on the user device, and transmits the passwordto the service provider.

The service provider receives the user entered password at step 220 anddetermines whether the received password is valid at step 222. Thedetermination may include comparing the received password with thepassword associated with the user account. If the password is valid, theuser may be provided access at step 212. If the password or PIN is notvalid (after a specified number of attempts), the user will not be givenaccess until the user can be authenticated.

The PIN may remain the same as long as the password remains unchanged.However, the PIN may change in different embodiments to increasesecurity. For example, the user may be given different rules atdifferent times. For example, the user may initially be given the ruleto map the first four characters of the password to numbers. At anothertime, the user may be given the rule to map the last four characters tonumbers. The times may vary or be periodic. The times may be based onthe number of times a user accesses the service provider, the durationbetween successive accesses, or other metrics.

Thus, using the process described herein, a user may be able to accesscontent, such as a user account, a site, or other restricted areas byentering a PIN instead of a password. This makes it easier for the usersince a PIN is typically shorter and can be easily entered through anumerical PIN pad. The PIN can be remembered by the user because it isbased on the user password, so that the user does not need to remember aseparate PIN and password. The user may be given a rule for convertingthe password to the PIN so that the user may not even need to rememberthe rule. The PIN can be more secure because it may change even when thepassword does not change.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a networked system 300 that can be used inone or more processes, such as described above, according to anembodiment of the invention. System 300 includes a client mobile device310, a client computing device 340, and a payment service providerserver 370 in communication over a network 360. Payment service providerserver 370 may be maintained by a payment provider, such as PayPal, Inc.of San Jose, Calif. Server 370 may be maintained by other serviceproviders in different embodiments. Payment service provider may be moregenerally a web site, an online content manager, a service provider,such as a bank, or other entity who provides content to a user requiringuser authentication or login.

Network 360, in one embodiment, may be implemented as a single networkor a combination of multiple networks. For example, in variousembodiments, network 360 may include the Internet and/or one or moreintranets, landline networks, wireless networks, and/or otherappropriate types of communication networks. In another example, thenetwork may comprise a wireless telecommunications network (e.g.,cellular phone network) adapted to communicate with other communicationnetworks, such as the Internet.

Client mobile device 310, in one embodiment, may be implemented usingany appropriate combination of hardware and/or software configured forwired and/or wireless communication over network 360. For example,client mobile device 310 may be implemented as a wireless telephone(e.g., smart phone), tablet, personal digital assistant (PDA), notebookcomputer, and/or various other generally known types of wired and/orwireless mobile computing devices. It should be appreciated that, invarious embodiments, client mobile device 310 may be referred to as auser device or a customer/client device without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

Client mobile device 310, in one embodiment, may include one or morebrowser applications 322, such as mobile browser apps, which may be usedto provide a user interface to permit user 302 to browse informationavailable over network 360. For example, browser application 322 may beimplemented as a web browser to view information available over network360. In one implementation, browser application 322 comprises a softwareprogram, such as a graphical user interface (GUI), executable by aprocessor that is configured to interface and communicate with thepayment provider server 370 or other servers managed by contentproviders or merchants via network 360. For example, user 302 is able toaccess websites to find and purchase items, as well as access useraccount information or web content. User 302, through client mobiledevice 310, may also communicate with payment provider server 370 tocreate an account and make a payment to the merchant.

As such, client mobile device 310, in one embodiment, may include otherapplications 328 as may be desired in one or more embodiments to provideadditional features available to user 302, including accessing a useraccount with payment provider server 370. For example, applications 328may include interfaces and communication protocols that allow the userto receive and transmit information through the payment provider andother online sites. Applications 328 may also include securityapplications for implementing client-side security features,programmatic client applications for interfacing with appropriateapplication programming interfaces (APIs) over network 360 or variousother types of generally known programs and/or applications.Applications 328 may include mobile Apps downloaded and resident onclient mobile device 310 that enables user 302 to access content throughthe Apps.

Client computing device 340, which can be similar to client mobiledevice 310, may be a separate device, such as PC or laptop, or may beomitted if the user will be using only client mobile device 310 forautomatic PIN generation. Both user devices may be used to accesscontent with the payment/service provider or other content providerthrough automatic PIN generation.

Client computing device 340, in one embodiment, may include a browserapplication 346 and other applications 348, similar to browserapplication 322 and applications 328 in client mobile device 310.Browser application 346 and applications 348 enable the user to access apayment provider web site and communicate with payment provider server370, as well as other online sites.

Payment provider server 370, in one embodiment, may be maintained by anonline payment provider, which may provide processing for onlinefinancial and information transactions on behalf of user 302. Paymentprovider server 370 may include at least one identity application 382,which may be adapted to interact with the client mobile device 310and/or client computing device 340 over network 360 to facilitate accessto accounts and the purchase of items, products and/or services by user302.

Payment provider server 370, in one embodiment, may be configured tomaintain a plurality of user accounts in an account database 384, eachof which may include or be separate from an account information 386associated with individual users, including user 302. For example,account information 386 may include identity information of user 302,such as one or more full names, business names, street addresses, emailaddresses and phone numbers, website addresses, or other types offinancial information, which may be used to facilitate onlinetransactions for user 302, as well as password and/or PIN for users. Assuch, identity application 382 may be configured to interact with a userto authenticate the user through a password or PIN and automaticallygenerate and store a PIN from the password. Payment provider server 370may also include a rules processor that automatically generates a userPIN based on the user password, applies or varies rules as needed, andmanages the access of the user through the generated PINS.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computer system 400 suitable forimplementing one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Invarious implementations, the user devices may comprise a personalcomputing device (e.g., a personal computer, laptop, smart phone,tablet, PDA, etc.) capable of communicating with the network. Thepayment provider may utilize a network computing device (e.g., a networkserver) capable of communicating with the network. It should beappreciated that each of the devices utilized by users and paymentproviders may be implemented as computer system 400 in a manner asfollows.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure,computer system 400, such as a smart phone, personal computer, and/or anetwork server, includes a bus 402 or other communication mechanism forcommunicating information, which interconnects subsystems andcomponents, such as a processing component 404 (e.g., processor,micro-controller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc.), a system memorycomponent 406 (e.g., RAM), a static storage component 408 (e.g., ROM), adisk drive component 410 (e.g., magnetic or optical), a networkinterface component 412 (e.g., modem or Ethernet card), a displaycomponent 414 (e.g., CRT or LCD), an input component 416 (e.g.,keyboard, keypad, or virtual keyboard), and a cursor control component418 (e.g., mouse, pointer, or trackball). In one implementation, diskdrive component 410 may comprise a database having one or more diskdrive components.

Computer system 400 may perform specific operations by processor 404executing one or more sequences of instructions contained in systemmemory component 406, such as described above with respect to the userand/or payment provider in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such instructions may be readinto system memory component 406 from another computer readable medium,such as static storage component 408 or disk drive component 410. Inother embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or incombination with software instructions to implement the presentdisclosure.

Logic may be encoded in a computer readable medium, which may refer toany medium that participates in providing instructions to processor 404for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but notlimited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.In one embodiment, the computer readable medium is non-transitory. Invarious implementations, non-volatile media includes optical or magneticdisks, such as disk drive component 410, volatile media includes dynamicmemory, such as system memory component 406, and transmission mediaincludes coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, including wiresthat comprise bus 402. In one example, transmission media may take theform of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radiowave and infrared data communications.

Some common forms of computer readable media includes, for example,floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magneticmedium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, anyother physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM,FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, carrier wave, or anyother medium from which a computer is adapted to read.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, execution ofinstruction sequences to practice the present disclosure may beperformed by computer system 400. In various other embodiments of thepresent disclosure, a plurality of computer systems 400 coupled by acommunication link 420 to the network (e.g., such as a LAN, WLAN, PTSN,and/or various other wired or wireless networks, includingtelecommunications, mobile, and cellular phone networks) may performinstruction sequences to practice the present disclosure in coordinationwith one another.

Computer system 400 may transmit and receive messages, data, informationand instructions, including one or more programs (i.e., applicationcode) through communication link 420 and a communication interface 412.Network interface component 412 may include an antenna, either separateor integrated, to enable transmission and reception via communicationlink 420. Received program code may be executed by processor 404 asreceived and/or stored in disk drive component 410 or some othernon-volatile storage component for execution.

Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosuremay be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardwareand software. Also, where applicable, the various hardware componentsand/or software components set forth herein may be combined intocomposite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable,the various hardware components and/or software components set forthherein may be separated into sub-components comprising software,hardware, or both without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated thatsoftware components may be implemented as hardware components and viceversa.

Software, in accordance with the present disclosure, such as programcode and/or data, may be stored on one or more computer readablemediums. It is also contemplated that software identified herein may beimplemented using one or more general purpose or specific purposecomputers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Whereapplicable, the ordering of various steps described herein may bechanged, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-stepsto provide features described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a memory storinginformation about a user account, wherein the information comprises afirst credential, a second credential automatically generated from thefirst credential, and a user identifier for a user; and one or morehardware processors in communication with the memory and configured for:accessing, by a content provider, a first access credential; andgenerating a second access credential based on a result of a ruleapplied to the first access credential, wherein the second accesscredential is different than the first access credential.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein the one or more processors is further configured forapplying the rule to the first access credential.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein the second access credential is not longer than the firstaccess credential.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first accesscredential is a password and the second access credential is a numericpersonal identification number (PIN).
 5. The system of claim 4, whereinthe PIN is four digits in length.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein therule is a truncation of characters in the first access credential. 7.The system of claim 1, wherein the rule is a mapping of specificcharacters in the first access credential to numbers to numbers.
 8. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein the password comprises characters and/orletters.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second credential isgenerated when a user logs into a site of the content provider using thefirst access credential.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the rule isnot the same for each log in by the user.
 11. A method, comprising:receiving identification information of a user through a user device;receiving an entered credential from the user; comparing, by a processorof a content provider, the entered credential with a stored credential,wherein the stored credential was generated automatically by theprocessor from a first credential of the user based on a rule and thefirst credential is different than the stored credential; and grantingaccess to the user if the entered credential matches the storedcredential.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising notifying theuser of the rule for converting the first credential to the enteredcredential.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first credential isused to generate a plurality of stored credentials based on acorresponding plurality of rules.
 14. The method of claim 11, whereinthe identification information comprises a user name, a user phonenumber, or a user email address.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein thefirst credential is an alphanumeric password, the stored credential andthe entered credential are numeric PINS, and the stored credential isnot longer than the first credential.
 16. The method of claim 11,wherein the rule comprises mapping individual characters of the firstcredential to numbers.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the rule mapsonly a portion of the first credential to numbers or characters.
 18. Asystem, comprising: a computer hardware storage storing accountinformation for a plurality of users having an account with a contentprovider, wherein the account information comprises a first credential,a second credential automatically generated from the first credential,and a user identifier for a user; and one or more hardware processorsoperable to: receive identification information of a user through a userdevice; receive an entered credential from the user; compare the enteredcredential with a second credential, wherein the second credential wasgenerated automatically from a first credential of the user based on arule and the first credential is different than the stored credential;and grant access to the user if the entered credential matches thesecond credential.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or moreprocessors is further operable to notify the user of the rule forconverting the first credential to the entered credential.
 20. Thesystem of claim 18, wherein the first credential is used to generate aplurality of second credentials based on a corresponding plurality ofrules.
 21. The system of claim 18, wherein the first credential is analphanumeric password, the second credential and the entered credentialare numeric PINS, and the second credential is not longer than the firstcredential.